Actuation lockout system

ABSTRACT

An actuation system, including a first member having a first profile engagable with a tool operatively arranged for actuating the member from an initial configuration to an actuated configuration. A second member is included that is movable relative to the first member. The second member has a lockout feature configured to prevent engagement of the first member with the tool while the second member is located proximate to the first member. A method of selectively actuating a system is also included.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONG

This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/609,676 filed Mar. 12, 2012, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The downhole drilling and completions industry utilizes a variety ofcomponents, packers, sleeves, valves, anchors, etc. that must beshifted, moved, or actuated. One type of actuation system includes ashifting tool having a profile that is complementarily formed withrespect to a profile of a component to be actuated, e.g., a sleeve. Bysimply running the shifting tool by the component to be actuated, theprofiles automatically engage and the shifting tool is able to causeactuation of the component. While this type of system works and is usedextensively in downhole systems, it is not without limitations. Forexample, a delay is sometimes desired between when a string including ashifting tool is run and when a downhole component is desired to beactuated, e.g., so additional operations can be performed downhole or atsurface before actuation occurs. Accordingly, apparatuses to effect suchdelay would be well received by the art.

SUMMARY

An actuation system, including a first member having a first profileengagable with a tool operatively arranged for actuating the member froman initial configuration to an actuated configuration and a secondmember movable relative to the first member, the second member having alockout feature configured to prevent engagement of the first memberwith the tool while the second member is located proximate to the firstmember.

A method of selectively actuating a system, the system having a firstmember with a profile that is engagable with a tool operatively arrangedfor actuating the first member from an initial configuration to anactuated configuration, the method including positioning a lockoutfeature of a second member proximate to the profile of the first member;and preventing engagement between the first member and the tool with thelockout feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way.With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numberedalike:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an actuation system having both aport control sleeve and a lockout sleeve in an initial or closedposition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the area 2-2 encircled in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional of a profile of a shifting tool;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the actuation system of FIG. 1 withthe lockout sleeve shifted away from the port control sleeve;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the area 5-5 encircled in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the actuation system of FIG. 1 withthe port control sleeve shifted to an open position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a plurality of ports aligned withopenings in the port control sleeve when the port control sleeve is inthe open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosedapparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification andnot limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring now to the drawings, a system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Thesystem 10 includes a sleeve 12 for opening one or more ports 14 in ahousing 16. Specifically, the sleeve 12 includes slots or openings 18that are axially alignable with the ports 14 by shifting or moving thesleeve 12, thereby enabling fluid communication between an interiorfluid pathway 20 in the string 16 and an exterior area 22, e.g., anannulus, a formation, a reservoir, etc., external to the string 16. Inone embodiment, opening the ports 14 with the sleeve 12 enables fluidproduction, e.g., hydrocarbon production. It will be appreciated,particularly in view of the below description, that other shiftable,actuatable, or movable members or tools could be utilized in lieu of thesleeve 12 for enabling fluid communication for other purposes, or forperforming, or assisting in the performance of, operations other thanopening ports and/or enabling fluid communication, e.g., setting a seal,packer, or anchor, actuating a tool, etc. Thus, while the particularoperation of the system 10 is given herein as an example, it isunderstood that the sleeve 12 could be replaced by other actuatable orshiftable members and that actuation thereof could be for other purposesthan opening the ports 14.

Initially, i.e., during run-in of the system 10, the sleeve 12 is heldin the closed position (as shown in FIG. 1) by a lockout sleeve 24. Asdescribed in more detail below, the lockout sleeve 24 ensures thatpremature opening of the ports 14 and/or actuation of the sleeve 12 doesnot occur, and further enables a delay between when a shifting tool isrun and when the ports 14 are opened. For example, in some downholefluid production systems it is common to run a production string havinga shifting tool thereon for actuating a plurality of tools or members(e.g., for opening a plurality of the sleeves 12 for opening a pluralityof sets of the ports 14). Operators of such downhole fluid productionsystems may desire a delay between when the production string isinitially run and when fluid production begins in order to performadditional operations at surface or downhole, e.g., in preparation of orto assist in production.

The lockout sleeve 24 is secured to the housing 16 via a release member25. The release member 25 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2 taking theform of a shear screw. In FIG. 2 it can also be seen that the releasemember 25 is equipped with a seal element 26, e.g., an o-ring or thelike, for preventing fluid communication between the internal andexternal areas 20 and 22. In other embodiments, the release member 25can take the form of any other member that releases under a sufficientload or pressure, e.g., a collet, shear ring, etc. If so desired, therelease member 25 could be released due to other stimuli, such asexposure to a fluid (causing degradation, corrosion, dissolution, etc.),a digital or analog signal, electric current, a magnetic field,hydraulic pressure, etc. Also to prevent fluid communication between theareas 20 and 22 before the sleeve 12 has been shifted, the system 10includes a set of packing assemblies 28 on opposite sides of the ports14 and radially between the sleeve 12 and the housing 16.

To this end, the sleeve 12 includes a profile 30 and the lockout sleeve24 includes a profile 32, with each profile 30, 32 enabling itsrespective one of the sleeves 12, 24 to be shifted or actuated by acomplementarily shaped shifting tool. While shifting tools are wellknown in the art, a shifting tool 34 is generally shown in FIG. 3 forthe purpose of discussion. The shifting tool 34 includes a shiftingprofile 36 having a first projection 38 a for enabling shifting of acorresponding tool, sleeve, or member in a first direction, and a secondprojection 38 b for enabling shifting in a second direction. The profile36 is formed, e.g., on each of a plurality of collet fingers or otherradially flexible members 40. Each of the first and second projections38 a, 38 b include an engagement surface 42 a, 42 b and a disengagementsurface 44 a, 44 b according to known shifting tool profiles (i.e., oneof the surfaces 42 a, 42 b matingly engaging a corresponding surface ofa tool or member to be actuated and one of the disengagement surfaces 44a, 44 b “climbing” a corresponding disengagement surface or shoulder forradially flexing the fingers 40 and disengaging the surface 42 a, 42 b).Operation of the system 10 is described herebelow with respect to thetool 34, although it is to again be appreciated that other shiftingtools could be used in lieu of or substituted for the tool 34 and thefollowing example is given for the purpose of discussion only.

FIG. 1 depicts the system 10 in its initially closed position, e.g.,after the housing 16 is run downhole and positioned in a desiredlocation, such as proximate to a fluid producing zone, reservoir, orformation as depicted by the numeral 22. In this initial configurationthe lockout sleeve 24 is abutting, adjacent, or proximate to the sleeve12. The lockout sleeve 24 includes a lockout feature 46 that preventsthe sleeve 12 from engaging a corresponding shifting tool as long as thelockout sleeve 24 is in the initial configuration shown in FIG. 1. Thatis, the feature 46 is positioned near the profile 30 so that the feature46 essentially acts as part of the profile 30, at least from theperspective of a shifting tool. Alternatively stated, the feature 46alters or modifies the geometry of the profile 30, or at least how ashifting tool “sees” the geometry of the profile 30, which prevents theshifting tool from engaging with the profile 30 of the sleeve 12. Forexample, the profile 30 includes a surface 48 arranged for engagementwith a corresponding surface of a shifting tool, e.g., the surface 42 aof the shifting tool 34. By positioning the feature 46 properly, theshifting tool will be unable to engage with the surface 48 of profile30. For example, again with respect to the shifting tool 34, the feature46 can be axially spaced from the surface 48 in the initialconfiguration so that the feature 46 is axially aligned with theprojection 38 b when the surface 42 a is aligned with the surface 48. Inthis way, the feature 46 will interact with the projection 38 b andcause the finger 40 to radially flex inwardly, thereby maintainingdisengagement of the shifting tool 34 and the sleeve 12. It is to beappreciated that the feature 46 could take forms other than the oneshown, e.g., extending axially, radially, circumferentially, etc. aslong as the feature 46 changes, alters, or modifies the geometry of theprofile 30, or how shifting tools “see”, engage, or interact with theprofile 30.

The profile 32 of the lockout sleeve 24 is not similarly blocked by alockout feature, and will engage a shifting tool, e.g., by matingengagement between the surface 42 a of the shifting tool 34 and asurface 50 of the profile 32. Once a suitable force or other stimuli hasbeen achieved for releasing the release member 25, e.g., a forcesufficient to shear a shear screw, the lockout sleeve 24 is shifted awayfrom the sleeve 12 to the configuration shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG.4, the sleeve 12 remains in its closed or non-actuated position evenafter shifting of the lockout sleeve 24. The system 10 includes alocking mechanism 52 for holding the lockout sleeve 24 in its shiftedposition. For example, as shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the lockingmechanism 52 is formed from a body lock ring 54, with the lockout sleeve24 and the body lock ring 54 having a ratchet engagement 56 therebetweenformed from complementarily formed ratcheting teeth or grooves. It is tobe noted that instead of a separate lock ring, the ratchet teeth orgrooves could be formed directly in a surface of the housing 16. Theratchet engagement 56 enables relative movement between the body lockring 54 and the lockout sleeve 24 in one direction only, i.e., away fromthe sleeve 12. Other locking mechanisms could be included, e.g., a splitring, dogs, etc. that spring or move partially radially outwardly into acorresponding recess in the housing 16 for prohibiting relative movementbetween the lockout sleeve 24 and the housing 16.

The shifting tool used for shifting the lockout sleeve 24, e.g., theshifting tool 34, can be released from the lockout sleeve 24 by use of ashoulder 58 of the housing 16, e.g., by the disengagement surface 44 bof the tool 34 “climbing” the shoulder 58 and flexing the finger 40radially inwardly for disengaging the surfaces 42 a and 50. As a result,once the lockout sleeve 24 has been fully shifted away from the sleeve12, the lockout sleeve 24 becomes locked by the locking mechanism 52 andis not engagable with shifting tools due to the presence of the shoulder58 for the remaining life of the system 10. In this way, the lockoutsleeve 24 can no longer interfere with or influence the operation of thesleeve 12, i.e., alter or modify the profile 30.

As a result of moving the lockout sleeve 24, more particularly thelockout feature 46, away from the sleeve 12, the sleeve 12 becomesengagable by its corresponding shifting tool. For example, again withreference to the shifting tool 34, the surfaces 48 and 42 a becomeengagable when the lockout feature 46 is absent, as the fingers 40 ofthe tool are not flexed radially inwardly, thereby enabling the tool 34to actuate the sleeve 12 to its open position or configuration as shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. It is to be appreciated that the shifting tool usedfor shifting the sleeve 12 could be the same shifting tool used toactuate the lockout sleeve 24, or a different shifting tool.

In one embodiment, once the lockout sleeve 34 has been displaced thesleeve 12 is arranged to be opened and closed repeatedly. That is, inaddition to the profile 30, the sleeve 12 includes another profile 60arranged for enabling a shifting tool to close the sleeve 12. Forexample, again referring to the shifting tool 34, the engagement surface42 b of the shifting tool 34 can be matingly engaged with a surface 62of the sleeve 12 for enabling the sleeve 12 to be closed. Once closed,the shifting tool 34 can be released from the sleeve 12 by engagement ofthe disengagement surface 44 a with a shoulder 64 of the housing 16.

It is again noted that sleeves or valves for enabling fluidcommunication for purposes other than production can be similarlycontrolled. Additionally, other tools that are settable or actuatable byshifting tools such as seals, packers, anchors, locking mechanisms, etc.could be substituted for the sleeve 12 and the sleeve 12 is given as oneexample only. Furthermore, the actuatable or shiftable member does notneed to be tubular in nature, and could have some other cross-section ortake some other shape as desired or dictated by the particularenvironment or geometry in or with which a system according to thecurrent invention is utilized.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substitutedfor elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope ofthe claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have beendisclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specificterms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in ageneric and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation,the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, theuse of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order orimportance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used todistinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the termsa, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotethe presence of at least one of the referenced item.

What is claimed is:
 1. An actuation system for use in a downhole tool,comprising: a downhole housing comprising a first member and a secondmember, the first member having a first profile shape responsiveselectively to a tool having a negative of the first profile shape, thetool operatively arranged for actuating the first member from an initialconfiguration to an actuated configuration; and the second membermovable relative to the first member, the second member having a lockoutfeature configured to prevent engagement of the first profile with thetool while the second member is located proximate to the first member.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second member has a second profileengagable with the tool or another tool for enabling the second memberto be moved away from first member.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe lockout feature includes a radial protrusion operatively arranged toprevent engagement of the first profile with one or more fingers of atool run through the system.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thesecond member is initially held proximate to the first member by arelease member.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the release member isa shear screw.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lockingmechanism for holding the second member in a position away from thefirst member.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism isa lock ring.
 8. The system of 6, wherein the locking mechanism forms aratchet engagement with the second member.
 9. The system of claim 1,wherein the first and second members are sleeves.
 10. The system ofclaim 1, wherein movement of the first member to the actuatedconfiguration opens one or more ports.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the first member includes a second profile for enabling thefirst member to be moved by the tool from the actuated configuration tothe initial configuration.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondmember has a second profile operatively enagagable with the tool forenabling the tool to move the second member away from the first member.13. A method of selectively actuating a system in a downhole tool, thesystem having a downhole housing comprising a first member and a secondmember, the first member having a profile that is engagable with a toolhaving a negative shape of the profile operatively arranged foractuating the first member from an initial configuration to an actuatedconfiguration, the method comprising: positioning a lockout feature ofthe second member proximate to the profile of the first member; andpreventing engagement between the first member and the tool with thelockout feature.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising movingthe second member away from the first member for enabling engagementbetween the first member and the tool.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the second member includes a second profile that is engagablewith the tool for moving the second member.
 16. The method of claim 15,further comprising actuating the first member from the initialconfiguration to the actuated configuration.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein actuating the first member from the initial configuration to theactuated configuration includes opening one or more ports.
 18. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising holding the second member in aposition away from the first member with a locking mechanism aftermoving the second member away from the first member.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein holding the second member in the position away fromthe first member includes forming a ratchet engagement with the secondmember.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the first member isrepeatedly transitioned by the tool between the initial configurationand the actuated configuration after moving the second member away fromthe first member.